Substantial Fee Award Sought In $3.4 Billion Class Action Settlement.
As reported in a February 2, 2011 post in law.com by Mike Scarcella, Washington lawyer Dennis Gingold and Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, who settled a class action alleging the government mismanaged billions of dollars held in trust flowing from the use of Indian land for oil, gas timber and minerals for $3.4 billion, are now seeking at least $223 million in fees. Earlier, the same attorneys asked for $99.9 million. However, they claim the results are substantial, they spent about $90 million in just hourly fees, they are well justified in light of the 14.5% contingency arrangement with the lead client, and Mr. Gingold gave up lucrative hourly financial client opportunities during the class action case.
Stiff Contempt Sanctions Hit Imelda and Son Ferdinand R. Marcos.
Amanda Bronstad, in a February 1, 2011 post in The National Law Journal, shares with us that Imelda Marcos and her son, Ferdinand R. Marcos, have been ordered to pay $353.6 million by U.S. District Judge Manuel Real for failing to adhere to a permanent injunction tied to a $4.5 billion judgment in multi-district litigation over alleged human rights violations stemming from her late husband’s rule over the Philippines. Earlier, Judge Real had awarded 25% of a settlement fund to the plaintiff class action lawyers. These awards could have bought a lot of shoes.
Petaluma’s Legal Fees Mount to Oppose Dutra Group’s Project.
Finally, the Argus-Courier Staff, in a February 1, 2011 published article, informs us that the City of Petaluma’s legal costs in opposing a proposed asphalt plant south of town, proposed by the Dutra Group, now total $47,820 for the period between February 2009 until the end of 2010. The City’s attorneys charged $195 an hour for this work.